Once a Skydigger, always a Skydigger and once a fan, always a fan.
The band’s ability to stay fresh and relevant mixed with a little nostalgia has made the Skydiggers a permanent fixture in many music collections.
It has also made for a sold out show at the Avening Hall Saturday.
Founding band members Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson met 45 years ago while growing up in Toronto.
Maize told The Creemore Echo, they had a common interest in the music that was coming out of England in the late 1970s and early 1980s, bands like the clash.
When they started playing together 28 years ago they wrote songs together and developed as a duo that went by the name West Montrose.
They played regularly at the Spadina Hotel with regular headliner Andrew Cash. They teamed up with Cash’s brother Peter to become the Skydiggers and took over the gig at the hotel when Andrew Cash moved on. Bassist Ron Macey and drummer Wayne Stokes also joined the band.
“Peter left the band after the fourth record (Road Radio) but he’s been playing with us again this year and he’ll be playing with us at the Creemore show,” said Maize.
The band now includes drummer Noel Webb, bassist Derrick Brady and singer Jessy Bell Smith.
Maize said, while going through old material several years ago, the band reflected on their musical community. He said it was like going through old snapshots.
“We realized that anyone who had been a Skydigger was still a Skydigger and was always welcome back whether for one show or a tour, we would embrace that diversity and the talent that all these different folks had brought to the band, rather than saying this is an exclusive club and you can’t come in once you leave,” said Maize.
“We have been very fortunate to be part of the larger community. I don’t think we ever took it for granted but now we appreciate it in a way that maybe we didn’t before.”
Last year the Skydiggers celebrated a 25th anniversary.
“When we started out we were in sort of this sweet spot of Canadiana in the late 80s and early 90s. There were a whole bunch of bands that were coming out and we were supported at a lot of college and university shows,” said Maize.
He said people used to come up to him at the end of a show and say the Skydiggers were their favourite Canadian band.
Maize said it was a compliment but a bit of a back handed one because it had that qualifier attached but, with the evolution of the Canadian music scene and great musicians coming out of this country, that has changed.
“I think that qualifier isn’t there any more. I think that’s a great progression,” he said.
Maize said technology has made recording more accessible making it easier for people to make music but also harder to get noticed because there’s so many people doing it.
Over the years, the Skydiggers’ sound has evolved but remains familiar.
Maize said sometimes they are looking for ways to change it up a little bit and they try to be conscious about not covering musical ground already covered.
Throughout its different incarnations, the band has put out 12 albums, the latest being Northern Shore, released in 2012, not to mention many other side projects.
“We are never standing still. We are influenced by all sorts of different things so I think that ends up coming through and we’re evolving as people as well,” said Maize.
He said he looks forward to playing Avening Hall on Oct. 25.
“Each venue has its own charm but there’s something about older venues. Because we started out as an acoustic act, there’s something about the sound, it just seems warmer in some of the older halls so it’s always a treat. It’s sometimes like the hall recognizes the music.”